Kenya, the East African Country considered the most stable in an otherwise volatile region has fallen into chaos after accusations of election rigging by incumbent President Mwai Kibaki. This has led to ethnic violence, Police brutality, media black out and a mood of mourning nation wide.
the pictures in this blog tell the story.
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[...] are some pictures (NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT) here picked up via Mashada, Africa’s online community. Category: Africa [...]
all the pictures here are chosen from online new agencies and individual submitions
Correction- Kenya has fallen into violence because one “Kenyan” Odinga has exploited the frustrations of those living in poverty. So, he gets into office…what’s he going to do with his orange/yellow shirt…impress people with his bad jokes? He has no agenda other than genocide of Kikuyu people. Makes me wonder what those British colonials were filling Luo heads with during colonial times.
If you support genocide, keep supporting Odinga.
after all the sacrifices done in all these years, is this the Kenya we need ?
u are right. this is not the Kenya we need and after all these years its a shame that the greed for power and opulence can leave a nation on its knees
I find it disingenuous to suggest that Raila Odinga is to blame for the people expressing their anger at being robbed of democracy by Mwai Kibaki. We can point fingers forever but it is very clear that Kibaki has been anything but democratic since he took power. So far he has blacked out the media, ordered police to “shoot to kill” (Michuki is, after all, Kibaki’s employee)…not to mention being sworn in under a shroud of secrecy like, someone else wrote, a thief.
We have lost even the shadow of democracy. Where is the transparency? Where is the freedom of speech?
Meanwhile, Odinga has already condemned the violence and urged his supporters to avoid it. On the other hand, we have reports that Kibaki’s friend, dictator Yoweri Museveni, has deployed troops to Nyanza, incidentally the home of most of Kenya’s Luos… We are finding it very difficult to verify these claims with photos and videos but have heard from more than one source on the ground that this is the case. IF YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS AND VIDEOS, PLEASE POST THEM.
Joseph, I appreciate your blog.
We desperately need up to date coverage of events in Kenya. But I ask you and all others who visit your site to recognize that this blog’s very purpose is hindered by Kibaki’s blackout of media and repression of free speech.
Peace,
Annah
i think the loose lucy kibaki is giving wrong advice to her a half dementia husband-kibaki. the kenyan people spoke thr’ the ballot but kibaki thought that was not enough added some of his own. to mr.Odinga “whatever you do or any step you take i will be there with you” God bless
Hi,
I would contact you to seek use of your photos for a project based on “citizens” contents of http://www.france24.com at http://observers.france24.com/ and I a, interrested about individual submitions Photos not from agency
I am malagasy blogger, freelance writer, and Regional editor (Africa) for http://www.france24.com and I need your permission to translate and publish your article on our website http://observers.france24.com Please e-,ail me Asap when you got minutes
In anticipation of a positive return, please accept my best regards.
Sincerely,
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[...] Extremely disturbing photos of the current state of affairs in Kenya from Kenyan blogger, Joseph Karoki Share This [...]
[...] violence, Police brutality, media black out and a mood of mourning nation wide.the pictures in this blog tell the [...]
I believe these pictures should be circulated as widely as possible. It is not about political leadership anymore. it is about the ordinary citizen getting caught up in business that they should never have been involved in. Look at the young boy strolling near a dead body as if its nothing. Is this the generation that Kibaki wants to rule? Is he that desperate?
The presence of Ugandan militia confirms his insensitivity towards fellow Kenyans. Knowing full well what Museveni’s agenda in East Africa is, how could he betray us like this?
I strongly detest M7’s comment about all this falling on Raila’s shoulders. We WILL NOT ALLOW KIBAKI TO RULE. HE WILL MURDER ALL OF US! no wonder Moi said, after the 2002 elections, that we had unleashed a monster!
[...] Sary mampihoron-koditra mampiseho ny toe-draharaha mafana ao Kenya avy amin’ny mpamaham-bolongana Kenyana Joseph Karoki. [...]
I am so amazed at M7 comments that is the same selffishness that we are seeing in kibaki and his croonies right now. M7 please do smarten up plus wake up and see what is really going on, put aside that selfishness and heartlessness and see the real picture KIBAKI IS KILLING KENYANS!
Kenya: Up in Smoke (UPDATED)
View from A Mad Kenyan Woman:We really cannot go on much longer with these protestations of horrified incomprehension when all along bloggers, intellectuals, human rights activists and my next-door-neighbour’s little girl have all been warning us of …
Having returned from Kenya yesterday, I can confirm that the feeling of tension there is mounting daily and the situatoin is becoming increasingly frightening. Being a regular visitor to this usually peaceful country, I can see the anger and fear that has arisen due to the ‘rigged’ elction results in these usually gentle people and my heart goes out to them during this period of unrest. There has been a curfew imposed in Mombasa with locals being told to be in by 7pm.Tthe media blackout and the fact that banks have been closed plus there being no mobile sim cards available means their lives are becoming increasingly difficult and contact with their loved ones is becoming impossible. Well done for providing these photos; the world should be able to see what is going on. We can only hope and pray that peace will soon be restored before too many more lives are lost.
Question ?
Is it right that the election campaign of Raila Odinga was massiv supported by Saudi Arabia and he has inoffically promised to introduce the Sharia ( the islamic law) in the next month if he will win the election ?
I have read about this under the link below.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/Kenyan.christians.could.be.subjected.to.sharia.law/15638.htm
This were really bad, because the majority in Kenya are christians and
Sharia will violate human rights and religious freedom.
Maybe this is only a rumour, so I wanted to read more sources about this.
Martin from Germany
please be advised that there is no Authenitcity on the document Mr.Blake purpotes. The Rumours of a Sharia law were found to be completely unfounded.
anjelika and annnah, though unusual, the troops are there to protect links vital to Uganda’s security. There is precedent for this particularly during the Mozambican civil war when both Zimbabwe and Malawi used their troops to protect the vital trade corridors. Uganda will move as much as it can to Tanzania, but has immediate needs for its own security situation.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/bsp/publications/africa/146/Mozambique.pdf
http://www.bartleby.com/67/4459.html
Steven,
The assertion that Ugandan troops are necessary on Kenyan soil is invalid. This infringement on our sovereignity will have ramifications beyond this year. I hope you know of the story about the elephant and a man one rainy day in the forest. Before you know it, Museveni will move from Nyanza, to Rift Valley and finally Central. Maybe then it won’t look like such a good idea then.
If Kenyan police don’t have the muscle to control Kenyan people who feel cheated, then surely Kenya Army should be involved. Not a foreign army, especially not a former guerilla army.
The problem with our people is that we have never had a war so we think we are ready for one and it sounds glamorous…FOOLS!!!!. It’s so sad seeing the pictures of burned bodies in churches it gives me flash backs from Rwanda genocide, Sudan and Somalia. why are we Africans so obsessed with the whole tribal nonsense…..guess what folks we are all Kenyans. It is absolutely wrong for the leaders to incite poor people into war knowing fully well they have nothing to loose. The leaders will jump into their jets and fly away to safety leaving our loved ones to die. Even if Odinga had worn we would still be dealing with this Kikuyu-Luo war…get over yourselves people ….kenya does not belong to either one of you….it belongs to all of us. we were know as the most people country in Africa and beautiful. I always wondered how things can go wrong so fast during the Rwanda genocide….now i understand. Pray for Kenya!
i think we need to sober up alittke bit and ask ouselves how we got into this mess.i think kibaki is wholy responsible for the civil stife in kenya by being power hungry and sorrounded by a clique of arrogant kikuyu burgoise namely martha karua amos kimunya and the likes of john michuki.the root cause of all this mayhem is the blatant rigging ever witnessed in kenyas history and to stop this from spilling ova i hhink kenyans must admit a mistake has been done and correct it just like kivuitu himself admited that this was a flawed provess.if i may ask the fela who is insinuating that this is railas fault .must kibaki nbe the president of kenya so that kenya can move foward ? adont think so we dont need him he tried all he cud in trhe five years what more does he want he should head straihgt to othaya and save as the agony of the country torn apart by civl war.now what was the point of naming the cabinet just a few hours before kufuor landed huh? utmsot bad faith and you pretend you want to negoatite .spare us the bullshit mr kibaki.you kow kibaki and his cronies do not know the ripple effects of their actions take for instance our work place no kikuyu is coming back for the fear of their lives another one isi instututionsof higher no kikuyu is coming back to maseno university moi university and all other wsestern and rift valley universities where dos that leave the students isnt kibaki effecting the majimbo they were talking about?and another issue is the land issue in the rift valley the president is consoling the victims of violence and telling them they will be compensated and rebuild .lies!!!how long will the police be with the people in the ground open your eyes kibaki and to that acase in point of how guillible kibaki is homes were being burnt down when he was around and he kibaki is being told that those are forest fires how dumb.
another twist i kalonzo musyoka who fuelled this from the word go.he knew he had no chance at all at the presidency he could have saved kenya by joining kibaki and giving him aclear win none of this coul have ahappened .now he has no moral authority to talk peace to kenyans.traitor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lastly mr kibaki blood will be shed if that is what it will take to dethrone you .as the famous swahili sayin goes HAKUNA AMANI ILA KWA NCHA YA UPANGA.DONT GIVE IN RAILA COZ IF YOU DO YOU WILL HAVE LET KENYANS DOWN KENYANS CANT B GOVERNRED BY ONE TRIBE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to ask m7 if he/she is a true Kenyan.First apologize for Kenyans,how can you say that Raila is fueling tribalism keeping in mind that his son Fidel married a Kikuyu and Rosemary married to a Luhyia.You should know that Raila is fighting for the democracy and justice for the people of kenya as a passie,i am perplexed with your comment,its you who is tribalistic.We talk of kibaki as president not KIkuyus.
You MUST keep this in mind
1.In 2002 Raila said Kibaki tosha knowing well that he was a kikuyu
2.KIbaki sacked Raila after using him as a ladder to ascend to power , because of his selfishness he dint want the suggested bomas draft of the constitution so that he can have powers for himself hence tufwate nyayo
3.Raila worked bravely to remove the tyrant regime,thats why we sung at Uhuru park yote yawezekana bila MOI KIbaki brought him back in 2007
4.if elections from both sides were flawed why is he fearing a re-run?
5.we trust Raila so much, coz he has revelled to us how KIbaki regime has been involved in corruption
6.Raila has not incited anybody against kikuyus,kenyas spoke and that is a way of expressing themself though i am not supporting killings and lootings
7.Kibaki has resorted to kill Luos and Luhyas depriving them there rights hiring miltia from Uganda.
8.He is being cheated by Museveni who has complately failed to address issues of justice and democracy in Uganda.
9.He was illigally sworn in not remembering to sing the National anthem.
10.how many friendly countries have sent congratulations to him,even mugabe could not attempt
11.He has appointed cabinet minister before they are sworn in as MPS
12.He has forgotten that this country is bleding ,he goes a head to make appointments ignoring the AU Chairman mediation efforts.
13.How can he rule Kenyans and he has support from only central and nyanza provinces thta is 2/8 which represents 4 tribes.
14.He promised a clean cabinet,what of Saitoti ,michuki and kiraitu
Let him kill kenyans ,kill justice and democracy of kenya.He is now taking us to moi erra,we dint know that we were voting in Idd Amin.East or west kenya is ours all and he will not stop kenyans from demanding there rights.we voted for change not Kibaki.
TUTAPIGA DOMO HADI TUPATI HAKI YETU.
CORRECTIO POINT 13
I meant he has support from central and eastern provinces which is 33.33% which represent kikuyu,kamba,meru,and Embu only.
I would like to ask m7 if he/she is a true Kenyan.First apologize for Kenyans,how can you say that Raila is fueling tribalism keeping in mind that his son Fidel married a Kikuyu and Rosemary married to a Luhyia.You should know that Raila is fighting for the democracy and justice for the people of Kenya as a passie,i am perplexed with your comment,its you who is tribalism.We talk of kibaki as president not Kikuyu’s.
You MUST keep this in mind
1.In 2002 Raila said Kibaki tosha knowing well that he was a Kikuyu
2.KIbaki sacked Raila after using him as a ladder to ascend to power , because of his selfishness he dint want the suggested bomas draft of the constitution so that he can have powers for himself hence tufwate nyayo
3.Raila worked bravely to remove the tyrant regime,thats why we sung at Uhuru park yote yawezekana bila MOI ,KIbaki brought him back in 2007
4.if elections from both sides were flawed why is he fearing a re-run?
5.we trust Raila so much, coz he has revealed to us how KIbaki regime has been involved in corruption
6.Raila has not incited anybody against kikuyus,kenyas spoke and that is a way of expressing them self though i am not supporting killings and lootings
7.Kibaki has resorted to kill Luos and Luhyas depriving them there rights hiring militia from Uganda.
8.He is being cheated by Museveni who has completely failed to address issues of justice and democracy in Uganda.
9.He was illegally sworn in not remembering to sing the National anthem.
10.how many friendly countries have sent congratulations to him,even Mugabe could not attempt
11.He has appointed cabinet minister before they are sworn in as MPS
12.He has forgotten that this country is bleeding ,he goes a head to make appointments ignoring the AU Chairman mediation efforts.
13.How can he rule Kenyans and he has support from only central and nyanza provinces that is 2/8 which represents 4 tribes.
14.He promised a clean cabinet,what of Saitoti ,michuki and kiraitu
Let him kill Kenyans ,kill justice and democracy of kenya.He is now taking us to Moi error,we dint know that we were voting in Idd Amin.East or west kenya is ours all and he will not stop Kenyans from demanding there rights.we voted for change not Kibaki.
TUTAPIGA DOMO HADI TUPATI HAKI YETU.
i’m shocked and ooow for what my brothers in kenya are doing to their other brothers!
it’s almost a flash back for me as i looked the pictures on the web. it remained me in mogadishu somalia in 1991
please stop the violence don’t be like my country in somalia………
kenya is and was my second country don’t distroy it please!
i love the kenyan people true from the bottom of my heart. Rest and peace be with you!
think the future and the future is yours
love from somalian brother in minneapolis, minnesota, USA
God Bless you for putting this together. We see images everyday and forget , the way you have complied this one cannot forget , especially when you see children whose lives had not even begun paying the price for what? For Kenya to respect all tribes and have one one tribe Kenyan!! Absolute power is dangerous and those who are obssesed with it will answer to God. Luos are not killing Kikuyus , The govt is sending police with live bullets to shoot innocent citizens who are fighting for their rights. The fighting in Rift Valley is between Kalenjins and Kikuyus. Thats the tribal aspect to it . The Luo Candidate for president has included ALL Tribes in Kenya while the Kibaki Govet is one tribe and one Kalonzo who lost the elections…No Kenyan should have to go through what any of these people have gone through and eventually the truth shall set Kenya free. Thanks Mr joseph Karoki for being none tribal in the images…all are painful.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY WHO CALLS HIMSELF M7? ARE YOU OK UPSATAIRS?
ATI RAILA IS TO BLAME, WHERE DID YOU HERE HIM SAY TO HIS SUPPORTERS TO KILL OR STAGE VIOLENCE? STOP BEING TRIBALISTIC,AND SMARTEN UP.
PEOPLE ARE REACTING TO THEIR RIGHTS THAT KIBAKI SEEMS NOT TO RESPECT.
PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD BE GOTTEN RID OF AND TAKEN TO UGANDA COZ YOU WILL FEEL MUCH AT HOME THERE
CALL US WHATERVER YOU WANT COZ WE ARE ODM AND THATS THAT
so even those thugs brandishing a knife and a flag with odm/odinga banners are “kenyans protesting of being robbed of democracy?” aren’t those the thugs being shot dead-i have no mercy for them. their protestations do not reflect my frustrations. i know who those knifes are meant for – u are right kikuyus. say what you will but u and i know this is the truth
Reading most of these comments just reminds me of the common mentality Kenyan’s have. Blame blame blame, people are dying, maybe the least ya’ll can do is forget your political affiliations and think of how you can be of help in preaching and promoting peace. Leave the politicians to deal politics, it’s a dirty game, case and point look at your country
GO M7, I SECOND YOUR COMMENTS. RAILA IS GREEDY FOR POWER. BORNE OF GREED SHALL ROT WITH GREED AND SO SHALL ALL THOSE WHO SACRIFICE HUMAN LIFE FOR THEIR POLITICAL INTERESTS.
this is what happens when we have politicians going round campaigning on tribal sentiments especially those from the odm side.thats why i find it ridiculous when i see people trying to defend raila he’s responsible for what has happened to kenya and i personally will blame him and his cronies,if your really interested in the truth publish what i have to say this is a true story, when the violence first started i accompanied a friend of mine to a meeting with otieno kajwang,his guardian had been a parliamentary candidate and he was trying to negotiate for a nomination slot and when he asked otieno kajwang to talk to their supporters to end the violence he laughed out loud asking us how many kikuyus were dead so far…..these are the kind of leaders we have kenyans so wake up………kikuyus have eaten kikuyus have eaten for too long weren’t these the campaign slogans most politicians were using and by doing so immediately after the election innocent people died just because of being kikuyu and we are not foolish as kenyans we know this attacks were planned we even saw clergy from eldoret instead of playing the role that they’re supposed to they took sides and tried to convince us that the violence was due to rigged elections..that confirmed to me that some of these clergy must have been involved just as they were in rwanda in 1994,the people of central kenya unanimously voted the old turks out to give way for new leaders the likes of njenga karume and did they expect the kikuyu to “lie low like envelops”famous words of william ole ntimama.so you do not fool us ODM is a party of war lords………i think the best solution for kenya is two different states w.kenya and e.kenya and everyone stays in their own country………….economic prosperity of the kikuyu is based on their mind set they know how to make money plain and simple and the envy eminating from other tribes and incitement from politicians is what led to the violence you cant chase others from your land and expect to stay in theirs………….i heard a person from western kenya lamenting that all matatus from that area are owned by kikuyus now i wonder has anyone ever been stopped from buying a matatu or is their a law that states all matatus must be kikuyu owned kenyans need to wake up dont blame people for being enterprising
finally,i must express my shock in seeing how kibaki has handled this crisis,he has proven to us that he is not a statesman nor a leader,railas track record speaks for itself but to me he has failed also in proving that indeed he can be a good leader he is surrounded by warlords and people who were responsible for dragging this country down during moi’s era and the people left to discuss under annan smell of kanu’s past on both sides kosgey,ruto,mudavadi,mutula,ongeri and i wonder does this mean we dont have other leadres in kenya?
the only person to prove himself is kalonzo musyoka who despite of not being a kikuyu was the first person to come out and condemn raila for the ethnic cleansing that was going on asking him whether this was the kind of majimbo system of government he was talking about
and when raila talks about the tree of liberation must be watered by blood why is it not fidel his son’s blood but the blood of innocent kenyans and mainly poor kenyans the rich are still doing business together despite of their diffrent ethnic affiliations
My people have died not because of KIbaki or Raila but because of the mps surrounding the two leaders. Plz lets not blame each other and agree to work together as a team for the better tomorrow.Imgn those pple burning schools and they kids will need them tomorrow, No any mps’ child learns in those school.So poor pple wake up and stop the war.
Can someone tell me the true meaning of astateman? then mail me kibaki and Raila’s addressess.Those two must know that The world has had leaders who brought democracy and justice not by war BUT by word.
Plz end the blood and sing the National Anthem together.
Remember the peace love and unity.
Definately M7 is “Vulture” as Kibaki who publish pictures to get sympathy from Eyes of an “Eagles” to drop a Pray.Anything good has its sideback as it all come from the Sacrifice. I blame the Leaders especially the Reformists of 1990s whom
1.Designed and Mend the front cloth of Kenyan at Childhood developments and forget the Says that “Naked back of a Women tells the tune of the Bed”.I emphasized on the incomplete cloth that cover all Kenyans irrespective of Race or Tribe. They thought the Independence was gotten from the White Settlers but they were only changing the color and Maintaining the system of governance.
2.Any trial to whoever participated on an act of violence will never heal anything but teach people the tune and they will sing (i.e) This is Africa and Let the People understand wrong to judge Spiritual not physically
3. I am a Kenyan Christian whom believe rather totally convinced that Jesus died on the cross for our Sins through the “PRECIOUS BLOOD” as sacrife as we also do died and split blood to Save kenyan from Sins of Stubborn Old Senile Leaders.
4. I am ready to be shot next by whoever in the name of denying me Justice. I will and will always fight for My and Country Kenyan the right of Njoki, Kibet, Hassan, langat, Nyaseda, Ochieng, Simiyu,Taib and others.
“COME ALL SING CHANGE SING LIBERATION OF REAL BLACKS FROM “WHITE BLACKS”
“THEY WILL KILL US YES-GOOD BUT WE SHALL FIGHT IN CRAVES”
Thanks.
my sympathy with all my kenyan brothers out there, but this should not be a surprise because this is likely to happern to all african countries, if the once very stable ivory coast fell to a simlar faith then why should kenya or any other african country think it is immuned from such occational out burst of chaos followed by the usual killings and dystruction.
Back in july of 2007 during the grand debate in ghana, kenya and uganda where against those who called for african unification sooner than the ethernal go slow crowd.
I will like to know what land lock uganda in 2008 thinks of staying on the cause and go slow for ever,same question to kenya,
however the soloution to all these occational tribal outburst in africa lies in its ability to unify with unification all these tribes will be diluted no one tribe will be a mejority.
the magic fomula is 90 days, for every 90 days of choas = 5 years of set backs so kenya better start moving fast to a solution soon.
for further reading get the book AFRICATION, available on the web.
kenya damu
Who killed democracy in Africa?
It is difficult to argue that democratization is an established trend in Africa. Likewise it’s not easy to establish with any clarity precisely what the legacies are from the past, especially since the past is not truly over. African politics have been driven since 1980s by a dialectical relationship between economic crisis and external intervention, especially by the international financial agencies. Hence, with only ambiguous support from the few democratic elites, Africa is experiencing a process of externally driven transition without consolidation which leads to unsustainable democracy.
Certainly, Africa would not, in general, seem to be fertile ground for democracy. Any tentative processes of democratization are also threatened and undermined by the prolonged economic crisis, deepening poverty and crisis of the state. Most African countries are very poor, with many having per capita incomes below $500. In general, countries that have democratized have done so at a much higher levels of income.
The poverty of African countries makes democracy very difficult as the struggle for power and the struggle for wealth focus on control of the state as the ultimate prize because there are so few resources in the private sector. African countries are also often divided along ethnic and regional lines and sometimes face simmering conflicts about what used to be called ‘the national question.’ Most countries also have long borders with unstable nations and are often imperiled not by what they have done but what their neighbors have failed to do. Many African governments also face the possibility of an armed insurgency fed by grievances, the ability to live off the land, and armed with weapons easily available on the global market.
The form of African elections is also often very challenging. There is hardly ever much policy debate as leaders seeks to be elected on the basis of their own charisma and appeals to different groups. However, elections themselves do not necessarily signify the beginning of democracy. For example in Nigeria and Sudan, the holding of elections has presented a cynical manipulation on the part of the military governments seeking accommodation with the international community. Moreover, the elections in most African countries have been carried out with intimidation and have not be fair and free yet they claim they are democratic!
Additionally, many of the democratic institutions in most African countries are far from the democratic model. Parliaments are still trying to organize themselves and often cannot provide any effective ballast to the executive. The courts are extraordinarily weak; judges are sometimes corrupt, seldom well-paid. The police and military are often badly resourced, corrupt, and distracted from their primarily missions of providing internal and external security by the political ambitions of their leaders and rivalries within their ranks.
Therefore, deeper democracy in Africa will depend on a change in the terms of global engagement, but also on a transformation of state structures and power relations within nation states. It demands a collective action from below and radical processes of social transformation within nation states.
By Shiro Mogeni
hmogeni@yahoo.com
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